Self-holding auto license frame



March 26, 1935. P. HUDSON lx995,984

SELF HOLDING AUTO LICENSE FRAME Filed 001'.. '7. 1932Illl-"IIIIlllllllllll-IIIIHJ` 9 I l HHHHHIIIHI:lllmmmhh Patented Mar.26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2Claims.

This invention relates to a self-holding auto license frame and has foran object to provide an improved license holder for automobiles, trucksor other vehicles, wherein the law requires identiilcation tags, orlicense plates.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved licenseplate frame or holder, which frame or holder is to be permanentlyattached to the automobile or vehicle, being either added to the vehicleby the vehicle owner or supplied additionally by the automobilemanufacturer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a license plate holderwherein it is unnecessary to use any bolts or nuts or other temporaryattaching means, and wherein it is only necessary to insert the licenseplate into the frame to have it ilrmly and securely held in positiontherein, and at the same time wherein it will not be liable to rattle orto become lost in use.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a license plateholder wherein the license plate may be easily inserted without toolsand when in position will present a neat appearance.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a license plateholder wherein a spring means serves to hold the license plate rmly inposition and wherein the spring means is such as to permit the licenseplate to be easily inserted in the holder without any possibility of theplate jamming against the spring and prevent it'from entering theholder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a license plate holderwhich is in the shape of a box and wherein a closure member is providedvat the end of the box to admit the license plate, the closure memberbeing hinged and an improved means being provided for locking the freeend of the hinged closure member firmly in position.

This application is a continuation in part of an application for aSelf-holding auto license frame, iiled January 19th, 193,2, Serial No.587,- 576, patented April 25, 1933, No. 1,905,874.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafter becomeapparent, this invention comprises the constructions, combinations andarrangements oi parts, hereinafter set forth, disclosed and shown on theaccompanying drawing. In this drawing,`

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the license holder, the license and thefront plate of the holder being broken away to show the springs attachedto said holder. The dotted position of the locking member shows thelicense plate being removed from said holder,

(Cl. l0-125) Figure 2 is a plan view of same showing the springs holdingthe license plate rigid and also showing the lockingl key in dottedlines after releasing the locking bar which is also shown in dottedlines,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1showing clearly how the set screw ts into the locking bar therebylocking the same, the license plate being shown in dotted lines,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the locking set screw and the key forturning the same showing clearly the internal splines in said set screw,

Figure 5 is a. modification showing two large springs instead of foursmall springs, as shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a modication showing the bent spring member having rubbercaps on either end of said spring.

. 'I'here is shown at 10 the holder, which it will be observed is in theform of a box having a back 1 1, a closed end 12, a similar closed top13 and bottom 14, and an open end 15, the open end 15 having a door 16hinged thereto at 17. A plurality of bolts 18 are countersunk as at 19through the Aback 11 to provide a means for securing this license plateholder to the automobile or vehicle.

A front wall 20 is formed in the box like holder l0, this wall 20however having an opening 21 therein, the opening 21 being slightlysmaller than the size of the license plate 22 that is to be placedtherein. As will be observed, the recessed wall 20 forms in effect aframe through which the license plate 22 is visible and against which itis held by means of a plurality of spring members 23. The spring members23 are secured to the back 11 by means of screws 24 passing centrallytherethrough. In outline the spring members 23 are shaped like asomewhat flattened capital W, as will be clearly seen from Figure 2,wherein the screw 24 passes through the flat and center portion or upperapex of the W, the lower points or apices 25 of the W pressing againstthe back of the license plate 22 and the tips or wings 26 of the Wpressing against the back 11 of the holder 10. The lower points 25 ofthe W are not sharp as in the letter, but are smoothly curved, as shown,thereby permitting the license plate 22 toslide into the holder 10 andto be held firmly against the frame 21 by being of a portion 25 of thespring 23.

In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, the w spring 23 is somewhat shortand four of these are provided one adjacent each corner of the holder10. In the form shown in Figure 5, thev --w springs 27 are somewhatlonger than the form shown in Figure 1 and only two w springs 27 areprovided, the w springs 27 being located abdve and below the center ofthe back 1l. thereby placing the license plate` contact apices 28substantially equidistant about the back 11, while the wings 29 pressagainstthe back 11 in thel 4saine manner as the wings 26 of the formshown in Figure 1. Instead of the wings being w-shaped as in the vformsJust described, theymay be in the form of a bent substantially V-shapedleaf spring 30. which may be held to the back 11 by means of a bridge31. The two ends of the V-ahaped leaf spring 30 may each be providedwith a rub-l ber inger or tip 32 which will press against the back ofthe license plate 22 to hold it in positio when it has been properlyinserted.

As will be observed, the front wall orl framey out in Figure 3. Toinsure against unauthorized removal of the license plate 22, the setscrew 36 cannot be operated by an ordinary screwdriver,

' but is internally splined as at 37 to cooperate with the splined end38 of a screw driver key 39. It is obvious that by varying the positionand the number of the spline 37 and cooperating splined end 38 of thekey 39, anumber of diil'erent individual locks may be provided fordiiferent license holders. I ,Y

.The novel features andthe operation of this device will be apparentfrom the foregoing descrlption. While the device has been shownand thestructure described in detail, it isobvious thatv this is notto beconsidered limited to the exact' form disclosed and that changesjmay bemade therein within the scope of what is claimed with- 'out departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

v Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is: .1. -As an article of manufacture, a license plate holdercomprising a substantially rectangular frame structure providingchannels along lthree frame members thereof adapted to Vreceive thevedge portions of the license plate and having an open slot provided bythe remaining frame member thereof, a closure member adapted to belocked insaid slot to obstruct passing therethrough when and plate ismounted m said frame structure, a

back member provided by the frame structure and v I extending behind therear of said plate when said plate is mounted in said frame structure,license plate holding spring means secured on said back member andadapted to hold said license plate nrmly in said channel, hinging meanssecuring one end of said closure member in said closure slot, andlocking means for removably securing the other end of said closureymember at the other end of said slot, said locking means comprising adepending ilange on said free end of said closure means adapted toextend into said slot when in closed position, said ilange having a setscrew receiving recess formed 4therein on the side towards the back ofsaid holder, said holder back having a cooperating threaded openingextending therethrough, andl a cooperating aligned set screw adapted tothread through said threaded openv ing of said back into said recess ofsaid depending tlange to hold said closure member in locked t position.

2. As an article of manufacture, a license plate holder comprising asubstantiallyV rectangular frame structure providing channels-alongthree frame members thereof adapted to receive the edge portions of thelicense plate and having an open slot provided bythe remaining framemember thereof, a closure member adapted to be locked in said slot toobstruct' therethrough when said plate is mounted in said framestructure, a

back member provided by the frame structure and extending behind therear of said plate when saidv plate is mounted in said frame structure,license plate holding spring means secured on f said back member andadapted to hold said license plate nrmly in said channel, hinging meanssecuring one end of said closure member in said closure slot, andlocking means for removablyy securing the other end of said closuremember atthe other end of said slot, said locking means comprising adepending flange on said free end of said closure ymeans adapted toextend into said slotwhen in closed position, said ange having a setscrew receiving recess formed therein on the side towards the back ofsaid holder, said holder back having s cooperating threaded openingextending therethrough, a cooperating aligned set screw adapted tothread through saidthreaded openingof said back into said recess of saiddepending ange to hold said closure member in locked position, said setscrew being provided with a particular splinel adapted to cooperate.with a particular spline screw driver.

PATRICK HUDSON.

